U.S. patent number 6,452,826 [Application Number 09/851,335] was granted by the patent office on 2002-09-17 for memory module system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Sung-Ig Kang, Se-Jin Kim.
United States Patent |
6,452,826 |
Kim , et al. |
September 17, 2002 |
Memory module system
Abstract
A memory module system includes a plurality of memory integrated
circuit fixtures, and a memory integrated circuit is attached on
each of the memory integrated circuit fixtures by forced contact
method. The attached memory integrated circuit can be removed from
a corresponding memory integrated circuit fixture. Memory size of
memory module systems can be increased, and defective memory
integrated circuits can be replaced easily by users.
Inventors: |
Kim; Se-Jin (Yongin,
KR), Kang; Sung-Ig (Yongin, KR) |
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
(Kyungki-do, KR)
|
Family
ID: |
19695563 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/851,335 |
Filed: |
May 9, 2001 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Oct 26, 2000 [KR] |
|
|
2000-63185 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
365/51;
365/63 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11C
5/04 (20130101); G11C 5/025 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G11C
5/02 (20060101); G11C 5/04 (20060101); G11C
005/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;365/52,51,63,230.03 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7200764 |
|
Aug 1995 |
|
JP |
|
9114953 |
|
May 1997 |
|
JP |
|
10144829 |
|
May 1998 |
|
JP |
|
10340231 |
|
Dec 1998 |
|
JP |
|
Primary Examiner: Le; Vu A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lee & Sterba, P.C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A memory module system comprising: a memory controller(120); and
a plurality of memory integrated circuit
fixtures(150_0.about.150_n) formed on printed circuit board with
opening and shutting mounted tops, wherein an integrated circuit
storage device is removeably attached to each one of the memory
integrated circuit fixtures, and the integrated circuit storage
device mounted on the memory integrated circuit fixtures is
connected to the memory controller to be selected individually, and
to share data, address, and control signals.
2. The memory module system of claim 1, wherein the storage device
is attached on the corresponding memory integrated circuit fixtures
by forced contact method.
3. The memory module system of claim 1, further comprising a
wire/wireless interface, wherein the memory controller communicates
with an external device by either a wire or a wireless method
through the wire/wireless interface.
4. The memory module system of claim 1, further comprising: a
battery for supplying power to the memory module system internally;
and a liquid display for notifying the user of internal operations
of the system.
5. The memory module system of claim 1, wherein the memory
controller includes an algorithm which can automatically detect a
size of a storage device attached to the corresponding memory
integrated circuit fixtures.
6. A method of detecting algorithm of the memory controller of
claim 5, comprising: generating an address for designating initial
data storage location on power-on or initialization; writing data
into the storage device in response to the address; reading the
written data; comparing the written data with the read data;
increasing the address to designate next data storage location,
when the written data and the read data are identical; and
performing repeatedly the writing, reading, comparing and
increasing until the written data is not read.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to storage device and, more
particularly, to a memory module system which can increase storage
size and replace defective integrated circuits.
2. Description of Background Art
In memory devices for storing data, portable memory device has been
manufactured by module type. Music data converted to digital data,
document data, and photograph data are stored in memory device of
module type. Semiconductor memory integrated circuit has been used
for this kind of data storage. The problem with this memory device
is as follows.
It is impossible for user to increase memory size in the module
type memory device. If the user tries to increase memory size in
the module type memory device, he/she should purchase new module
having memory size he/she wants. Also, several modules are needed
to store large size data. If at least one of integrated circuits
provided in the module has defect, it is impossible to use
remaining normal integrated circuits. In such case, it is also
impossible for user to replace only the defective integrated
circuit.
Consequently, there is a need for a new conceptual memory device
for which the user can increase the size of data, and replace data
more easily.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a feature of an embodiment of the present invention,
there is provided a memory module system capable of increasing data
size and replacing defective integrated circuit.
According to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, a
memory module system is provided which includes a memory
controller, a plurality of memory integrated circuit fixtures
formed on printed circuit board with open and shut tops. A storage
device is attached on the memory integrated circuit fixtures by
forced contact method, and then the fixture top is shut. The
attached storage device can be removed easily from the memory
integrated circuit fixtures by opening the top. The storage device
attached on the memory integrated circuit fixtures is connected to
the memory controller to be selected individually, and to share
data, address and control signal.
According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present
invention, the memory module system includes a wire/wireless
interface, a battery, and a liquid display. The memory controller
communicates with an external device through the wire/wireless
interface, the battery supplies power to the memory module system
internally, and the liquid display is used to notify internal
operation of the system to the user.
According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present
invention, the memory controller includes an algorithm which can
automatically detect the size of storage device attached to the
corresponding memory integrated circuit fixtures. The detecting
algorithm includes generating an address for designating initial
data storage location on power-on or initialization, writing data
into the storage device in response to the address, reading the
written data, comparing the written data with the read data,
increasing the address to designate next data storage location,
when the written data and the read data are identical, and
performing repeatedly the writing, reading, comparing and
increasing until the written data is not read.
According to the memory module system of the present invention, not
only can the memory size of memory module system be increased, but
also defective memory integrated circuits can be replaced easily by
users.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a memory module system
according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a portable
system including the memory module system;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment of memory
module system according to the present invention; and
FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the structure of
memory integrated circuit fixture shown in FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Korean Patent Application No. 00-63185 filed Oct. 26, 2000,
entitled "Memory Card System," is incorporated herein by reference
in its entirety.
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred
embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may,
however, be modified in different forms and should not be construed
as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these
embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough
and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to
those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements
throughout.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portable memory module system
according to an embodiment of the present invention. The storage
size provided by the memory module system according to the present
invention can be expanded, and semiconductor memory integrated
circuit provided in the memory module system also can be
replaceable. This will be explained in more detail later. As seen
from FIG. 1, the memory module system according to the present
invention can be used as a device storing back-up data of digital
camera or digital video camera, or temporal data. Also, the memory
module system according to the present invention can be used
instead of a hard disc driver of notebook system or a PDA system,
and can be used as expansion system for storing back-up data of
smart phone or MP3 system. Furthermore, the memory module system
according to the present invention is connectable to the portable
systems explained above by wire or wireless, and can be used
effectively.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of memory
module system according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows
a cross-sectional view of the structure of memory integrated
circuit fixture according to FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 2, the
memory module system (100) of present invention includes a
wire/wireless interface (110), a memory controller (120), a liquid
display (130), a battery (140), and a plurality of memory
integrated circuit fixtures (150_0.about.150_n). A memory
integrated circuit mounted on the respective memory integrated
circuit fixtures (150_0.about.150_n) is a unit for storing data,
and is in a of plastic or CSP package. Also, the memory integrated
circuit mounted on the respective memory integrated circuit
fixtures (150_0.about.150_n) can be made in the form of a small
module which contains only unit integrated circuit of micro smart
media module or package of unit memory chip.
Memory integrated circuits mounted on the respective fixtures
(150_0.about.150_n) are selected individually in response to
corresponding chip selection signals (/CE0.about./CEn) generated
from the memory controller (120). The memory integrated circuits
mounted on the respective fixtures (150_0.about.150_n) are
configured to share control signals (/OE,/WE), data signals, and
address signals through bus connected to the memory controller
(120). The method of mounting memory integrated circuits on the
corresponding fixtures (150_0.about.150_n) is not a soldering
method but a forced contact method.
If a mounted memory integrated circuit happens to be defected, the
memory controller (120) identifies the location of the defective
memory integrated circuit, and notifies the user through the liquid
display (130). As depicted in FIG. 3, the memory integrated circuit
fixtures (150_0.about.150_n) are configured to operate in an open
and a shut mode in order to change and hold the memory integrated
circuits, respectively. The memory integrated circuit fixtures are
formed on the metal lines of the printed circuit board.
The memory controller (120) performs basically overall control
operation. It's functions include monitoring data status of added
memory integrated circuit, correcting error in defective bit, and
improving reliability of stored data and file management.
Furthermore, the memory controller (120) has a function of
protecting previously stored data against undesired data access and
writing from the exterior. The memory controller (120) can
receive/transmit data from/to exterior through the wire/wireless
interface (110).
The memory module system according to the present invention also
generates a warning signal such as sound and vibration when there
is access from exterior. Such an access can be allowed by the
certification of user of the memory module system. Using switch in
the module system or password can be employed to protect the data
of the original user and as a method of certification for external
access. As these certification methods are obvious to those who
skilled in this art, the detail explanation will be omitted herein
for simplicity.
The memory controller (120) according to the present invention
provides an algorithm which can automatically detect the size of an
attached memory integrated circuit. According to this algorithm,
the memory controller (120) writes data into the attached memory
integrated circuit by utilizing an address for storage location,
when power is supplied to the system or the system is initialized.
Next, the memory controller (120) reads the written data, and
compares the read data with the written data. If the written data
is identical to the read data, the memory controller (120)
increases the address to designate the next storage location. By
using increased addresses, data is written into the attached memory
integrated circuit. This procedure is performed repeatedly until
previously written data is not read. Calculating the address
generated, the size of an attached memory integrated circuit can be
finally identified.
As described above, by providing an attached memory integrated
circuit fixture in a memory module system, the storage size of
memory module system can be easily increased by a user and
defective memory integrated circuits can be replaced easily by a
user.
The foregoing description of the present invention has been
presented, using specific terms, for purposes of illustration and
description. Numerous modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is
therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended
claims, the present invention can be practiced in a manner other
than as specifically described herein.
* * * * *